WATFORD FRIENDLY LEAGUE UNDER-16 CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINAL
HADLEY WOOD & WINGATE 1 MACCABI LONDON LIONS 2

A late strike from Alex Rose guided Maccabi London Lions into the last four of the Challenge Cup following a thrilling win over Hadley Wood and Wingate.

In an attempt to guarantee the tie went ahead at the second attempt (it was cancelled due to snow at the beginning of January), the game was switched to the 3G at Rowley Lane.

Played in wet and windy conditions, the holders sent out a depleted squad, with only 11 fit boys by kick-off time and they had to do it the hard way after conceding a goal through a defensive mistake after about 25 minutes.

However, both before and after the goal, Lions were playing the better football and creating most of the chances. Just before half-time they got the all important equaliser. From a free-kick on the right-hand side the ball was cleared to the edge of the box and up popped MAX MISRAHI to volley the ball home into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Both teams seemed to lose the ability to pass the ball with any accuracy in the second half, and the second-half was a scrappy affair.

However Lions again had the better of the few chances created without having the cutting edge in the final third. Then, as the game was heading towards extra-time, Lions scored the winner. George Leigh swung in a corner from the left and the Hadley keeper could only punch the ball high into the air above him, as the ball came down through the rain the injured ROSE, who had defied his manager's by staying on the pitch and playing through the pain barrier, leapt highest to nod the ball over the line.